India vs England: Rohit Sharma leads India to solid start in the third Test

In a thrilling start to the third Test match between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, India, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat. This decision set the tone for what turned out to be a competitive day of cricket.

India’s opening pair of Rohit Sharma and young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal took the crease to face the challenge of the English bowling attack led by James Anderson. The Indian team was hoping for a solid start after gaining an edge with Sharma’s choice at the toss.

Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early to Mark Wood’s delivery, caught by Joe Root in the slips, scoring just 10 runs. His dismissal brought Shubman Gill to the crease, but he too failed to make an impact and was dismissed without scoring any runs.

Rajat Patidar, the new face in the Indian batting lineup, joined Rohit Sharma as India faced some early wobbles. Patidar tried to steady the ship but was sent back to the pavilion by Tom Hartley after scoring only five runs. At this point, the Indian team had scored just over 50 runs with three wickets down.

Captain Rohit Sharma, after facing early uncertainty with an LBW shout from Wood, showcased his experience and class by anchoring the Indian innings. He formed a key partnership with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who provided valuable support from the other end.

At lunch, India had posted 93 runs on the board, with Sharma scoring a well-compiled half-century, supported by Jadeja’s steady presence at the crease. The duo’s partnership began to flourish, offering hope for a strong total against a persistent English attack.

The English bowling unit, comprising seasoned campaigners like James Anderson and Ben Stokes, continued to test the Indian batsmen but struggled to break the Sharma-Jadeja partnership. As the day progressed, India looked poised for a solid first-innings total, thanks to the resilience shown by their middle order in the face of testing conditions.

The presence of match-winners like Jasprit Bumrah and the experienced duo of Anderson and Stokes added to the intrigue of the contest. With the match finely poised, both teams are eager to gain an advantage in the crucial third Test.